Paper bottle spout



7, 1956 R. M. HANSEN 2,757,830

PAPER BOTTLE SPOUT Filed Aug. 20, 1951 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fife/ward .M Hansen ATTORNEY Aug. 7, 1956 R. M. HANSEN 2,757,830

PAPER BOTTLE SPOUT Filed Aug. 20, 195] 2 SheetsSheet 2 ATTORNEY United States Patent PAPER BO'ITLE 'SPOUT Richard M. Hansen, White Bear Lake, Minn.

Application August 20, 1951, Serial No. 242,669

9 Claims. (Cl. 222-528) This invention relates to an improvement in paper bottles and deals particularly with the provision of a spout at the top of the bottle which would enable the consumer to drink directly from the bottle.

Paper bottles are now commonly used for containing milk and other liquids. These bottles are usually provided with a tab which may be opened to expose an aperture in the upper portion of the bottle. This aperture provides a means by which the contents of the bottle may be emptied into a glass or the like. The opening also may be used to accommodate straws through which the contents may be drawn. However, none of the paper bottles in common use provide a spout of atype which will enable the consumer to drink directly from the bottle. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide such a spout. v

A feature-of the present invention resides in the provision of a milk bottle having a tab hingedly connected thereto and normally overlying an inner member. This inner member is arranged in folded relation and may be drawn outwardly upon opening the tab so as to provide a convenient means of drinking directly from the bottle.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an inner reinforcing member overlying the tab formed in the top of the bottle and including gusset folds which may open out to provide a cup shaped spout. When the tab is in closed position the reinforcing member acts as an inner closure for the opening and prevents leakage from the bottle.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a spout through which liquid may be poured within the sight of the consumer. The spout is preferably located near the upper extremity of the carton, making it possible to view the pouring operation without difliculty.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the milk bottle showing the spout in open position.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of form.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the spout in folded condition.

Figure 4 is a front view of the spout in condition to be adhered to the body of the bottle.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spout alone in open position. I

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the blank of which the bottle is formed showing the folded flat spout in position thereupon.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of bottle showing the construction thereof.

Figure 8 is a perspective viewof the modified form of spout in open position.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the spout in fiat condition.

; Figure 10 is a diagrammatic viewof the bottle blank showing the modified form of spout attached thereto.

the spout in flat ice The milk bottle A may be of any suitable type, the particular bottle illustrated being of the type having a gabled top. It is desirable that the spout be located above the level of liquid in the bottle so that when the spout is open the milk or other liquid will not escape. Obviously the spout may be used with other types of bottles.

The bottle A is shown in Figure 6 as having rectangularly arranged side walls 10, 11, 12 and 13 which are connected along parallel fold lines 14, 15 and 16. A glue flap 17 is hingedly connected to an end panel such as 10 by a fold line 19.

The wall panels thus described are connected along a common line of fold 20 to the top panel structure. Generally rectangular top panels 21 and 22 are connected to the wall panels 11 and 13 respectively. Rectangular panel areas indicated in general by the numerals 23 and 24 are hingedly connected to the upper ends of the wall panels 10 and 13. the rectangular areas 23 and 24 include a first triangular area 25' hingedly connected along the fold line 20 and having an apex at the center line of the rectangular areas 23 and 24. These triangular areas 25 leave similar triangular areas 26 and 27 which are hingedly connected to the panels 21 and 22 and to the glue flap extension 29.

The panels 21 and 22, as well as the rectangular areas 23 and 24 are connected along a common fold line 30 to end flanges. End flanges 31 and 32 are hingedly connected along the fold line 30 to the panels 21 and 22. Similar end flanges 33 and 34 are hingedly connected along the fold line 3%} to the rectangular areas 23 and 24. Each of the end flanges 33 and 34 are centrally divided by a fold line into two similar areas, the central fold line 35 dividing the end flange 33 and the central fold line 36 dividing the end flange 34.

Closing flaps 37 and 39 are foldably connected to the end flaps 31 and 32 along aligned fold lines 46 and 41 which are parallel to the fold lines 26 and 31.

In the formation of the bottle the glue flap 17 overlaps the panel 13 and is adhered thereto. The extension 29 of the glue flap is adhered to the panel 22 and the end flap 32. The bottom of the bottle, not illustrated in detail in the drawings, is sealed in any desired manner and the carton is preferably coated with wax or other similar waterproofing material. The top structure of the carton is folded to form a gable top in the manner well known in the art.

In the present invention the reinforcing or spout form ing element B is adhered in surface contact with the top panel 21. As best illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings a tab 42 is formed in the panel 21, this tab being formed by a pair of upwardly and outwardly diverging cut lines 43 and 44 connected by a connecting cut line 45. The tab 42 is generally triangular with the base of the triangle uppermost, but the apex at the lower end of the triangle is cut off to provide a hinged line between the tab and the remainder of the panel.

The reinforcing and spout forming member B is shown in blank form in Figure 2 of the drawings. in this arrangement the member B includes a central triangular member 46 designed to form the outer wall of the spout. The base 47 of the triangular area 46 is uppermost when the spout is attached to the bottle. The converging fold lines 49 and 50 connect the central triangular area 46 with triangular gussets 51 and 52 respectively. These gussets are connected along fold lines 53 and 54 to similar triangular gussets 55 and 56. The gussets 55 and 56 are connected along fold lines 57 and 59 to anchoring portions 60 and 61 respectively. A transverse strip 62 is integral with the anchoring portion 61 and extends up wardly along the free edges of the triangular gussets 52 and 56 for a purpose which will be later described in detail.

1n the gabled type of top illustrated.

Figure 3 illustrates the rear view of the spout B in folded condition. In folding the spout the triangular gussets 51 and 52 are folded along the fold lines 49 and 50 so as to overlie the central triangular area 46. In the particular spout construction illustrated, the gussets 51 and 52 are each of substantially half the area of the center triangle 46 so that when folded the fold lines 53 and 54 abut one another in the vertical center of the triangular area 46. The gussets 55 and 56 are folded back upon the gussets 51 and 52 as shown in Figure 3, the anchoring areas 60 and 61 remaining in the same plane as these gussets 55 and 56. The strip 62 then extends across the top of the triangular area 46, the lower edge of this strip abutting against the top edge 47 of the area 46. In this position the lower edge of the strip 62 abuts against the upper edge of the anchoring area 60, thus forming a generally rectangular folded structure of the shape illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The folded structure shown in Figures 3 and 4 is adhered to the blank A by applying adhesive over part or all of the forward surface as indicated in Figure 4. When applied the apex at the lower end of the triangular area 46 extends substantially along the fold line 20. The fold lines 49 and 50 defining opposite sides of the triangular area 46 follow the general shape of the diverging cut lines 43 and 44 of the tab 42, but lie inwardly thereof. In other words, the tab is slightly wider and higher than the triangular area 46 so that the triangular area 46 is spaced inwardly from the marginal edges of the tab 42 as illustrated in the drawings.

Normally the cut lines defining the tab are either not entirely out through or the tab is held in place by wax or other coating material used on the blank. As a result the tab 42 normally remains in the plane of the panel 21 in which it is formed. However, by pulling outwardly on the upper edge 45 of the tab 42, this tab may be hinged outwardly into the position shown in Figure 1. In this position the gusset folds of the spout forming member B form the sides of a cup shaped spout which projects from the surface of the bottle sufliciently to permit the contents to be readily poured or drunk.

It will be noted that the edges of the tab 42 overlie portions of the anchored sections of the spout forming member so that an overlapping or off-set joint is produced. Thus the bottle has been found to be relatively leak proof in use. At the same time the anchored areas about the foldable portion of the spout provide a liquid proof joint when the spout is in open position.

In Figures 7 through of the drawings I disclose a slightly different form of construction of spout. The milk bottle C illustrated in Figure 10 is fundamentally identical to the bottle A previously described, with the exception of the tab shape formed in the panel 21. Accordingly the bottle C has been given similar identification numerals, with the exception of the panel to which the spout is attached, which in the bottle C has been given the numeral 65.

The spout D illustrated in Figures 7 through 10 is shown in blank form in Figure 9. This spout includes a generally rectangular central spout member 66 connected along opposite fold lines 67 and 69 to triangular gusset panels 70 and 71 respectively. The gusset panels 70 and 71 are connected along fold lines 72 and 73 to similar triangular gussets 74 and 75. The gussets are all preferably of substantially the same size although this is not essential. The gussets 74 and 75 are connected along fold lines 76 and 77 to anchoring portions 79 and 80. The fold lines 67, 72, 76 converge to a common apex 81 while the fold lines 69, 73 and 77 also converge to a common apex 82.

A fold line 83 connects the apex 81 with the apex 82 and foldably connects the spout panel 66 with an anchoring panel 84. A projection 85 is integrally connected to the anchoring portion 79 to extend angularly with respect thereto and a similar extension 86 is integrally connected to the anchoring portion 80. In actual practice the ends 87 and 89 of these projections 85 and 86 may abut one another or if preferred these extensions may overlap and be adhered together.

In forming the spout illustrated in Figure 9 the gusset folds and 71 are folded to overlie the panel 66 and the gusset areas 74 and are folded back to overlie the gusset areas 70 and 71 to which they are attached. The anchoring areas 79, and 84 together with the projections and 86 then lie in a substantially common plane with the gusset folds 74 and 75 as indicated in Figure 8 of the drawings. Adhesive is then applied to the central panel 66 and the anchoring areas 79, 80 and 84 with the projections 85 and 86 and the folded structure is adhered to the panel 65 in the manner illustrated in Figure 10. In the particular form illustrated the anchoring area 84, together with the lower ends of the anchoring areas 79 and 80 overlie the wall panel 11 and are adhered thereto.

As will be noted in the drawings, the generally rectangular tab 90 formed in the panel 65 is slightly larger in dimension than the spout panel 66 and is defined by an inverted U-shaped cut line shown terminating along the fold line 20. As a result a marginal portion of the tab projects beyond the rectangular area of the panel 66 so as to provide an offset joint between the spout structure and the tab. The cut lines defining the tab 90 are usually closed by the wax or other coating on the paperboard and this tab accordingly normally lies in the plane of the remainder of the panel 65. However, by pulling outwardly on the upper edge of the tab 90, the adhered portion 66 of the spout structure is hinged outwardly in folding the triangular gusset to form a spout of the type illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings. This spout may be used in dispensing the contents of the bottle or may serve as a drinking spout for drinking the contents of the bottle.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my paper bottle dispensing apparatus, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A gabled top milk bottle provided with a V-shaped drinking and pouring spout in the gabled top thereof including in combination a series of top wall panels foldably connected together with lower wall panels along a common fold line, one of said top wall panels having a generally trianguler fluid sealing tap formed therein above the common fold line and defined by a generally triangular cut line including a pair of upwardly and outwardly diverging cut lines and a transverse connecting cut line, the lower apex end of the triangle being cut off at the common fold line to form a hinge connection between said tab and said one wall panel, and a spout structure in wardly of said one wall panel and secured thereto and to said tab, said spout structure including a generally triangular panel secured to said tab and forming an inner wall of the spout, a pair of connected gusset members foldably connected to opposite edges of said triangular panel and folded to overlie said triangular panel, and anchoring members foldably connected to said gusset members, said anchoring members being adhered to the inner surface of said one wall panel on opposite sides of said tab, the lines of fold connecting said gusset members to said triangular panel and to said anchoring members converging toward a substantially common point.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and in which the triangular panel of the spout structure is narrower than said tab.

3. The structure described in claim 1 and in which the triangular area of said spout structure is narrower than said tab and is anchored inwardly of the opposite edges of said tab.

4. The structure described in claim 1 and in which the tab is larger than said triangular panel and the anchoring areas of the spout structure overlap and are connected to marginal edges of said tab.

5. The structure described in claim 4 and including a lateral projection secured to one of said anchoring areas and extending across said one wall panel above said triangular panel and in edge abutting relation with the upper edge thereof.

6. A gabled top dispensing bottle including a series of top wall panels hingedly connected together with side wall panels, one of said top panels having a generally rectangular fluid sealing tab formed therein, said tab being defined by an inverted U-shaped cut line having the ends of the out line connected by a fold line at the juncture of the top wall with a side wall panel, a spout struc- 'ture secured to the inner surface of said bottle, said spout structure including a panel connected to the inner surface of said tab, marginal tab anchoring portions secured to the inner surface of said one wall panel on opposite sides of said tab, and a pair of gusset folds connecting each side edge of said panel on said spout structure with one of said anchoring portions, said gusset folds being foldable inwardly of said panel of said spout structure when said tab is in closed position, and extensions on said marginal anchoring portions extending across the top of the tab and adjoining wall panel portions and terminating in end abutting relation.

7. The structure described in claim 6 and in which said panel of said spout structure is generally rectangular in shape.

8. The structure described in claim 6 and in which said panel of said spout structure is generally rectangular in shape and is narrower than said tab, the marginal edges of said tab overlying portions of said anchoring areasof said spout structure.

9. A dispensing bottle having a drinking and pouring spout including in combination a bottle body of paperboard or similar material having foldably connected gable top panels and side wall panels, a tab cut in one of said top panels and connected thereto along a fold line joining a corresponding side wall panel, the cut lines forming said tab being spaced inwardly from the sides and top edges of said one panel, and a spout forming structure connected to said one top panel and inwardly of the edges of said tab, said spout forming structure including a pouring panel secured to the inner surface of said tab leaving the side and top marginal edges thereof free of said spout, adhesive anchoring portions secured to the portions of said one panel and lying inwardly of the cut line defining said tab on opposite sides of said tab, gusset folds connecting the pouring panel of said spout forming structure with said anchoring portions thereof and an adhesive anchoring portion secured to the upper portion of at least one of said first named anchoring portions and secured to said one panel of said foldably connected panels above lying inwardly of the cut line defining the tab, whereby said adhesive portions lying inwardly of said cut lines secure said marginal edges of said tab in fluid tight relationship with the anchoring portions of said spout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,698,338 Lewin Jan. 8, 1929 2,288,042 Spilman June 30, 1942 2,531,630 Jones Nov. 28, 1950 2,546,052 Wilkins Mar. 20, 1951 2,601,399 Jones June 24, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 328,768 Great Britain May 8, 1930 

